120201-r7-youfraThe Franciscan Youths (YOUFRA) of Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor: Feeling triumphant after giving their share to the community. Tree planting and clean up activities are one of the regular activities of these youth to help mitigate the adverse effects of climate change following their weekly formation at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor. (pia-siquijor/Rizalie Anding Calibo)

Central Visayas Region

Solar energy to light up 75 more houses in off-grid areas in NegOr

by Rachelle M. Nessia DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 31 (PIA) -- Some 75 houses located in off-grid areas in Negros Oriental are expected to be lighted up using solar energy during the first quarter of this year. Said houses are located in off-grid areas in Vallehermoso, La Libertad and Guihulngan towns which are within the coverage area of Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative I (NORECO I). (+)

Feature: Agrarian communities upbeat on communal irrigation

by Rey Anthony H. Chiu BOHOL, January 29 (PIA) -- Knowing fully well how irrigation facilities can double rice harvests, farmers from Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) in Alicia, Balilihan, Catigbian and Danao towns in Bohol lobbied for their respective Communal Irrigation Projects that could ignite their spirits for bountiful harvests. According to the National Irrigation Authority (NIA), communal irrigation projects (CIP) are small-scale irrigation facilities constructed with the participation of farmer-beneficiaries thru the irrigators associations in identified farm areas. (+)

by Hazel F. Gloria CEBU CITY, January 31 (PIA) -- As part of the GREENIN Philippines Program, a Cebu-based NGO, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc (RAFI) calls on the public to collect and propagate seeds to contribute to the creation of native tree forests in Central Visayas. Executive director of the Integrated Development unit of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Rowena Alensonorin pointed out the urgent need to replace trees cut down for construction purposes after some parts of the country experienced the tragic effects of flashfloods and landslides. (+)

DSWD brings Pantawid Pamilya program to Dumaguete City

by Rachelle M. Nessia DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 31 (PIA) -- Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program officially rolled out in Dumaguete City on Jan. 27, 2012 with 1,326 potential beneficiaries in 26 barangays in Dumaguete City, according to Bella Tse, provincial coordinator of the Pantawid Pamilya program in Negros Oriental. The implementation kicked off with an orientation conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for members of the program’s city advisory committee and city action team. (+)

Cebu-based NGO to hold free screening for breast, cervical cancer

by Hazel Gloria CEBU CITY, January 31 (PIA) -- The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc (RAFI), a Cebu-based NGO and the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical center will hold a cervical and breast cancer screening activity for free on Feb. 4 at the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) Conference Room located within the compound of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Cebu City. According to RAFI, this is part of its advocacy to undergo early detection measures to prevent breast and cervical cancer. (+)